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A detective has been grilled by a defendant over what he was doing at a Bay of Plenty property on the day of an alleged shootout that left four police officers injured last year.

Rhys Warren, 28, has pleaded not guilty to six charges including attempted murder, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and using a firearm against a law enforcement officer.

Constable Regan Mauheni, Constable Damian White, Constable Andrew Flinn, and Sergeant Logan Marsh were all allegedly shot by Warren on March 9 at a rural address near Kawerau.

Warren had barricaded himself in his home during a 22-hour stand-off with police after they entered the Onepu Springs Rd property to remove cannabis plants, when shots were allegedly fired at their spotter plane.

CIB Detective Darryn Gabb was involved in the search and destroy mission of marijuana when he was forced to flee the address after hearing what he thought were gunshots.

Giving evidence at the High Court in Hamilton on Wednesday, Mr Gabb was cross-examined by Warren, who is representing himself.

When asked if he had a lawful search warrant to enter tangata whenua land that day, the detective admitted he did not but had the right to under the Search and Surveillance Act 2012.

"There are provisions under the act that allow us under certain circumstances that if we have reasonable reasons to believe there is a controlled drug there that we can enter a property," Mr Gabb said.

Warren then quizzed the witness about a stolen Toyota Hilux in the vicinity, alleging that was the real reason they were in the area.

Mr Gabb admitted they were looking for the truck but the operation was flexible and when they spotted the cannabis plants from the air they entered the property.